It’s Thursday, January 21st, A.D. 2021. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard at www.TheWorldview.com. I’m Adam McManus.
By Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com)
Nigerian Muslims kidnap, then murder Catholic priest
On Saturday, January 16th, the body of Father John Gbakaan, a Catholic priest, was found mutilated and tied to a tree in Nigeria, Africa, reports International Christian Concern. The Muslim terrorist group Boko Haram is likely behind it.
Father Gbakaan, his brother and another priest, were all kidnapped the day before as they returned to Niger. Shortly after the kidnapping, the abductors told Father Gbakaan’s diocese that they needed $80,000 to release him and the two others. After negotiations, they lowered the ransom to $13,000. Sadly, they killed Father Gbakaan. The other two are likely still captive.
Nigeria continues to rank in the top ten of Open Door’s World Watch List in 2021 of the worst countries in the world for the persecution of Christians. Please pray for God to comfort and strengthen Father Gbakaan’s family.
The swearing-in of President Joe Biden
Yesterday morning, in the shadow of the Capitol, Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts swore in Joe Biden as the 46th President of the United States of America.
ROBERTS: “Please raise your right hand and repeat after me. I, Joseph Robinette Biden, Jr., do solemnly swear.”
BIDEN: “I, Joseph Robinette Biden Jr., do solemnly swear”
ROBERTS: “that I will faithfully execute”
BIDEN: “that I will faithfully execute”
ROBERTS: “the Office of President of the United States”
BIDEN: “the office of President of the United States”
ROBERTS: “and will to the best of my ability”
BIDEN: “and will to the best of my ability”
ROBERTS: “preserve, protect and defend”
BIDEN: “preserve, protect and defend”
ROBERTS: “the Constitution of the United States”
BIDEN: “the Constitution of the United States.”
ROBERTS: “So help you God?”
BIDEN: “So help me God.”
ROBERTS: “Congratulations, Mr. President.”
(applause and music)
While former Presidents Obama, Bush and Clinton were in attendance, former President Trump skipped the ceremony.
President Biden calls for unity, while demonizing opponents
In his inaugural address given to a smattering of officials and an empty mall, President Biden advocated for unity.
BIDEN: “I know speaking of unity can sound to some like a foolish fantasy these days. I know the forces that divide us are deep and they are real. But I also know they are not new. Our history has been a constant struggle between the American ideal — that we are all created equal — and the harsh, ugly reality that racism, nativism, fear, and demonization have long torn us apart.
“The battle is perennial. And victory is never assured. Through the Civil War, the Great Depression, World War, 9/11, through struggle, sacrifice, and setbacks, our “better angels” have always prevailed.”
Ironically, in a non-unifying tweet on January 7, Biden labeled Trump supporters who gathered at the Capitol on January 6th, the vast majority of whom were peaceful, as “domestic terrorists.”
Here is an audio clip revealing that Biden’s call for unity is not terribly genuine.
BIDEN: “Here we stand, just days after a riotous mob thought they could use violence to silence the will of the people, to stop the work of our democracy, and to drive us from this sacred ground.”
Pastor’s ironic call to care for most vulnerable at inauguration
At the conclusion of the inauguration ceremony, Pastor Silvester Beaman of Bethel AME Church in Wilmington, Delaware delivered the four-and-a-half-minute benediction, acknowledging the holiness of God, reports Christian Headlines.
BEAMAN: “God, we gather, under the duty of Your holiness, and the holiness of Your beauty. We seek Your face, Your smile, Your warm embrace. We petition You once more in this celebration. We pray for divine favor upon our President Joseph R. Biden, and our First Lady, Dr. Jill Biden and their family.”
Pastor Beaman urged Americans to care for one another.
BEAMAN: “We will care for our most vulnerable – our children, the elderly, [the] emotionally challenged, and the poor.”
Pastor Beaman’s call that we care for our most vulnerable, including our children, was especially ironic in light of President Biden’s declaration last April that killing unborn babies was an “essential medical service” during the coronavirus pandemic. In addition, Biden’s health care plan would expand abortions by forcing insurance companies to cover abortions as “essential” health care under Obamacare.
Robert Jeffress: God is still on throne, pray for President Biden
Last Sunday, Pastor Robert Jeffress of First Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas, said that while he was disappointed that Joe Biden was set to be the next president, he was not depressed.
JEFFRESS: “I’m not depressed. I’m not discouraged. I’m not downtrodden over that fact for one simple reason. Even though the occupant of the Oval Office is changing this week, the occupant of the throne in heaven is not changing at all. God is on His throne in Heaven.
“Daniel 2:21 says it is God who establishes kings and removes kings. God is the one who determines all authority. He’s in control of all of it.”
Pastor Jeffress urged all Christians to pray for President Biden.
JEFFRESS: “We are to pray for the government leaders. We are to pray for Joe Biden. And we are to pray for Kamala Harris. And we are to pray for every elected official. In 1 Peter 2:1-2, Paul said, ‘First of all, then I urge that entreaties and prayers and petitions and thanksgiving be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all those who are in authority.’
“We don’t just pray for the government leaders we voted for, the ones that we like, or the ones that we support. We are to pray for all of them. Why? So that we might live a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.”
Please pray that President Biden will not follow through on his promises to push abortion, advocate for sodomy, and restrict Christian liberty.
Biden’s transgender Assistant Secretary of Health
And finally, during Biden’s campaign, he went so far as to endorse children as young as eight “deciding” they’re transgender.
And earlier this week President Biden chose Pennsylvania Health Secretary “Rachel” Levine as Assistant Secretary of Health, reports ChristianDaily.com.
However, to be clear, Levine is not a woman, but a man whose given name is Richard. He not only claims to be a woman and dresses as a woman, but he has chosen mutilating surgeries and takes estrogen. Richard, a.k.a. “Rachel” Levine is the first transgender person to serve in the Cabinet.
Deuteronomy 22:5 says, “A woman must not wear men’s clothing, nor a man wear women’s clothing, for the LORD your God detests anyone who does this.”
Close
And that’s The Worldview in 5 Minutes on this Thursday, January 21st, in the year of our Lord 2021. Subscribe by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Or get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I’m Adam McManus (adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.